Person pleads guilty to sex offences against boys at youth camp
A man who contaminated candy with sleeping medication and gave them to children at a summer program in the region has confessed to sexual offenses against two young males both between nine and ten.
The defendant was taken into custody after eight minors and an older person experienced illness at the location in the summer month.
The 76-year-old, from the Nottinghamshire area, confessed to a total of 17 charges when he appeared at Leicester Crown Court on the end of the week.
Yet, he denied one particular crime he was accused of, which was involving a young boy.
Ruben was held in detention ahead of a further hearing on late November.
'Treat game'
The prosecutor, prosecuting, outlined the criminal behavior to the legal proceedings.
She stated his targets were children from difficult backgrounds who were staying at a summer camp which he ran.
Ruben engaged in a "treat game" with the minors, the legal counsel stated, in which he would go into the children's bedrooms when they were getting ready for bed and tell them to consume candy "as quickly as they can".
She stated to the judge the defendant had played this game with the young males "repeatedly", and minors had previously become sick the following morning.
She explained the defendant had been able to explain this over a long period as the youngsters being "overstimulated by activities", until his stepchild had worries in summer 2025.
The legal representative stated further: "This year his stepson had suspicions about the situation, for good reason.
"They resolved" to examine in the individual's items."
Mrs Prior KC explained items including baby oil, ointment and medical needles were located, and his stepchild notified the law enforcement about his concerns.
She stated the defendant continued to conduct the "sweet game" with six youngsters that time - July 26th - and they were everyone unwell the subsequent day.
"Authorities" had not responded by that point," she stated further.
The regulatory agency, the Independent Office for Police Conduct, previously told that it was examining law enforcement's management of the events.
The prosecutor said the minors were unable to walk properly due to their sickness, so the stepson contacted the law enforcement a second time.
She stated Ruben then engaged in the "candy game" in a space of five youngsters.
